Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY285290 Inspection date 07/07/2009 Inspector Sandra Hornsby

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Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2004. She lives with her husband and three children aged, three, five and 15 years in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. The whole of the childminder’s house and outdoor playroom are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. She regularly works with two assistants and may care for six children under eight years. She is currently minding seven children on a part- time basis in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare register. The childminder collects from local schools and attends groups. There are two dogs, three cats, tropical fish and a rabbit who live on the premises.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate. The childminder does not have adequate knowledge of each child's individual needs and does not promote aspects of their welfare and learning and development successfully. The childminder is failing to meet a number of welfare requirements which means children may be at risk of harm, and systems to support their health care and well-being are ineffective. Children's learning and development opportunities are poorly organised and weaknesses in this area of the provision restrict some children's progression. Partnership arrangements with parents are basic, and insufficient attention is given to working with other Early Years Foundation Stage providers. The childminder has not undertaken any self evaluation and has not identified the weaknesses but now wants to make positive changes and plan for making improvements.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 ensure a safeguarding children policy and procedure is implemented, including a procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a household member or assistant (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (this also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  ensure all assistants understand and are able to implement the safeguarding procedure (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (this also applies to 24/08/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register)  provide evidence that written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future and is currently in place for existing minded children (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 20/07/2009

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further?

 demonstrate how you ensure parents are provided with necessary information, policies and procedures, with particular reference to the procedure to be followed in the event of a child going missing and the complaints procedure (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (this also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  ensure adults looking after children must have appropriate qualifications, training, skills and knowledge (Suitable people) (this also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  ensure Ofsted is notified of any change of persons aged 16 years or older living or working on the childminding premises (Suitable people) 20/07/2009  ensure all reasonable steps are taken to minimise the hazards to children in relation to the pond and windows upstairs (Suitable premises, environment & equipment) (this also applies to the compulsory and

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further?

voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 20/07/2009  plan and organise systems to ensure that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning experience that is tailored to meet their individual needs (Organisation) 28/09/2009  undertake sensitive observations in order to plan to meet young children's individual needs (Organisation) 28/09/2009  plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child's stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals (Organisation) 28/09/2009  provide a record of risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation). 24/08/2009  ensure name, address and telephone number of anyone who will regularly be in unsupervised contact with the children is maintained (Documentation). 20/07/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The records, policies and procedures held by the childminder are not adequately meeting the needs of children and safeguarding their welfare. A number of required procedures are not in place and some are not understood by the assistants who are employed by the childminder. For example, safeguarding issues and procedures and first aid. The suitability of those working with the children, their skills and experience has not been adequately assessed by the childminder to ensure children's safety and well-being, and the childminder has not informed Ofsted of a change to household members. Required personal information regarding assistants is not maintained to an adequate standard and kept on the premises. Play areas are clean and hygienic, with a large free play space. However, these areas and the assistants are not adequately deployed and organised to make the best use of the space to effectively support children's

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provision

learning. Risk assessments are not thorough enough and some not recorded. Identified risks, such as the raised pond, do not have recorded risk assessment and action has not been taken to effectively manage or eliminate these risks fully to safeguard children. The childminder has not undertaken any self evaluation of her provision and has not identified the weaknesses or concerns, which means she is not monitoring her provision to ensure she continues to meet children's need to an adequate standard. Two recommendations made at the previous inspection have been addressed.

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provision

The childminder has a basic relationship with parents and shares information daily about how children have been. Information offered to parents does not include all the specific required procedures needed to help parents understand about the provision. These include, procedures in the event of a child going missing and a complaints procedure. Parents are aware of the working arrangement with assistants. The importance of contracts, record forms and agreements between parents and childminder has been overlooked and some important information about children is missing on these documents. For example, children's health and medical/immunisation history and written permission to obtain emergency medical treatment. Consequently children are at risk of not receiving the correct emergency care if they need it.

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provision

Arrangements for safeguarding children who may be at risk of harm and neglect are inadequate. Assistants are not aware of safeguarding procedures and the childminder, although knows what to do if she has concerns, does not have telephone numbers and contact details of agencies to hand. She is not aware of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and need to reflect these in the documents she uses. Her procedure does not include a procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against an assistant or household member. This hinders procedures from being implemented quickly and efficiently to safeguard children's welfare. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a limited understanding of the learning and development requirements and how to support children's learning and development effectively. Children are confident and move about the large play areas freely. There is some interaction between the childminder, assistants and children and they have a comfortable relationship. But overall, assistants and childminder have little impact on the children's learning. Children access a small range of small world toys and books. Babies use a bouncy chair, a fabric/textured book and soft comfort blanket. The childminder has other equipment which she says she exchanges regularly. However, the learning environment is not organised well enough to help children make progress. Equipment and toys are not sufficiently engaging and do not offer challenge, exploration and investigation, and there is not a balance of adult-led and child initiated activities offered through indoor and outdoor play. The

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

childminder has a long term plan over several months, each bi-month is labelled with one of the six areas of learning. This, however is not sufficiently meeting children's curriculum needs in the short term and this may hinder a child receiving a broad, balanced and varied curriculum. Although the childminder has assessed some aspects of children's development it is not thorough enough to evaluate where children are at in their development. Observation are not used in planning for individual children's needs. Consequently, children are not being offered the best opportunities to learn and develop and make good progress towards the early learning goals.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Systems are weak and assistants not trained sufficiently to promote children's safety and welfare. Some aspects of welfare are satisfactory such as children's social relationships and behaviour. Children are helped to understand about fire evacuation and practice the procedures, and personal hygiene procedures are being introduced as children wash hands before their meals. However, other aspects such as safeguarding, risk assessments and organisation of resources and deployment of assistants are not adequately maintained or organised and have a significant impact on children's welfare. Some health information is in place and parents have agreed to the medication and sickness procedures. The childminder has a current first aid certificate. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 4 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 4

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 4 How well are children helped to be healthy? 4 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 4 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 keep, implement and share with parents a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect(Arrangements for Safeguarding children) (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  ensure there are effective systems are in place to ensure assistants have the necessary skills and experience suitable for the work (Suitability to care for children or be in regular contact with children) (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of Premises and Equipment) (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 20/07/2009  ensure there is a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

a parents makes in writing or e-mail (Procedures for dealing with complaints) (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 20/07/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Arrangements for Safeguarding children) (this also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  take action as specified in the compulsory part of the 24/08/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Childcare Register (Suitability to care for children or be in regular contact with children) (this also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of Premises and Equipment) (this also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 20/07/2009  take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Procedures for dealing with complaints) (this also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 24/08/2009  take action as specified in the early years section of

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

the report (Suitability and safety of Premises and Equipment) (this also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 20/07/2009

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